Woman, 60, jumps on croc

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A 60-year-old woman jumped on the back of a four-metre crocodile
as it dragged a man from his tent near a beach in far north
Queensland.

The crocodile let go of the man but then turned on the woman,
pulling her towards the water before another person shot the
reptile dead, said wildlife officers.

Authorities said the two were lucky to survive the attack,
which took place at 4am (AEST) today as they slept at Kalpower
Holding at Bathurst Bay, nearly 300km north-west of Cairns and near
Lakefield National Park.

The injured pair were evacuated by helicopter and flown today to
Cairns Base Hospital, where the woman was being treated for a
broken arm and cuts and bruises and the man a broken arm, a broken
leg and injuries to his body.

Royal Flying Doctor Service public affairs manager Stephen
Pemberthy said the 34-year-old man was asleep in a tent with his
wife and baby, about 50 metres from the water's edge, when the 4.2m
crocodile attacked.

A 60-year-old woman camped nearby saw the reptile dragging the
man by his legs and jumped on to its back.

"She was also camping there and she saw what was happening and
she jumped on the croc," Mr Pemberthy said.

Tackled by the woman, the crocodile let go of the man and
grabbed her instead, dragging her towards the water.

She was saved when a third person, who has yet to be identified,
shot the crocodile dead.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service northern regional
service director Clive Cook said the campers had managed to set off
a rescue beacon, capturing the attention of the rangers who
were in the area eradicating wild pigs.

A QPWS helicopter went to the site and evacuated the pair,
stabilising them at the ranger station at Lakefield National Park
while alerting the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which flew them to
the Cairns Base Hospital just before 12pm (AEST) today.